So I got this note about a Sun Microsystems offer on Santa.
Checked it out myself.
Then I posted it to the list.
And we've talked for a week or so about it.
Some letters were angry.
Some were pleasant.
One or two were from people who seemed to just want to complain
  about something.
 
Ok.
 
All the concern for verification shows how jumpy we are after the fake
   virus warning on AOL.
That concern and skepticism is GOOD. It operates as a firewall against
   abuse of services like that one.
 
I guess I should have said in my original note that this was legit. But I guess
   I also saw it as my responsibility as a user of this service to check it out
   MYSELF before passing it on. So I talked to someone I know at Sun and
   got confirmation: Sun offers $25K at $0.10 per message. Then I posted the
   message I got. I didn't say it was for kids. I figured out that out late when
   I got messages back. I told that to everyone who wrote or called me. (I
   also figured writing: "This is legitimate" would be a dumb way to tell
   you that this was legitimate.
 
Sure, be skeptical about what you read on the net. Use the DELETE key if
   you can't verify or are unsure. And don't pass something on unless
   YOU are sure of the information. Or mark it as a RUMOR. But certainly
   relax about the process. No need to be snappy or angry. We are
    PROFESSIONALS here. _Most_ of the messages I've gotten show this.
   A little respect for each other won't be such a bad thing.
 
So be skeptical, but add courtesy and respect, please
 
 
 
 
__________________________________________________
 
Joe Cain
Associate Editor, Special Publications
National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA  22201-3000
 
(703) 312-9211 voice
(703) 243-7177 fax1
(703) 522-6193 fax2
 
                 "The danger of knowledge is not as great
                   as the danger of ignorance."
                                  -- Isaac Asimov (and others too)